Stretching table



Oct. 2, 1945.

C. M. MARTIN STRETCIIIING TABLE File d Feb. 27, 1945 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 4 CLIFFORD MILES MARTIN ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1 945. I c MARTlN 2,385,998

STRETCHING TABLE Filed Feb. 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLIFFORD MILES MARTIN WWMW ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I STRETGHING TABLE Clifford Miles Martin, llenver, Colo; Application February 27, 1945, Serial No, 579,919

" 6 Claims. (Cl. 128 -12) This invention relates to improvements in stretching tables of the type employed to passively release spinal tensions and restore spinal flexibility.

It is the object of this invention to produce a stretching table that can be readily adjusted and which will automatically maintain a predetermined longitudinal relation with respect to a shoulder support table.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a tableof the kind specified, that can be readilyadjixstedlongitudinally to suit pupils of different heights, and which, in addition, shall have hand hold rods for the pupil to grasp while being stretched.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a table of the kinds referred to which shall have a shoulder support table that is transversely adjustable.

The above and other objects that may appear as this description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the table;

Figure 2 is atop plan view;

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3, Figure 1; a V

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the shoulder support table showing by broken lines the manner in which the same can be adjusted} Figure 5 is a side yiew of the rocker table, parts beingbroken away and shown in section to better disclose the construction;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-45, Fig-.- ure 5;

s Figure 7 is a section taken on line 1-'I, Figure6; V

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-8, Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation and partial section, showing the means for latching the rocker table; r

' Figure 10 is a side elevation of the latching member;

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the latching member shown in Figure, 10;

Figure 12 is a section taken on line l2-I2, Figure 10 and .Figure 13 is a view partly in section, corresponding to Figure 7 and shows the construction in somewhat greater detail.

In-the drawings reference numerals l5 designate two angle irons that form the base of the table frame. Secured to the angle irons by means of bolts or rivets I6, is a table frame comprising four corner members l1, forming two pairs, each pair being interconnected by means of bars I8 that serve as hand grips. A frame comprising two angle irons l9 connectedat one end by an angle iron 20 and connected intermediate their ends by means of a flat bar 2|, issecured to the upper ends of the corner members [1 by means of bolts orrivets 22. The bar 2! is curved down- 'wa'rdly at the" center; Connected with the frame is a table top comprising two sections 23 and 24 that are pivoted tothe angle iron 26 .at pointi 25. These'sections can be VmoYed inwardly and out wardl as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4;. The two adjustable sections each comprise a board base 26 and a rubber foamcushion 21. j The table which .has justjbeen. described will be designated hereafter asjthe shoulder support table and is held stationary with respect to the frame member l5 and at a. fixed distanceabove the latter. l v

A rockable adjustable table issecured to the other end of the frame members I 5 and will now be described. a

Supports are secured to the angle irons (5 by bolts or rivets 29,and extend upwardly terminating in rearwardly projecting end. portions 3 0 to which the angle irons 31, that serve as rocker supports, are connectedf At, the rear end of the frame, angle irons ,32 extend downwardly from the angle irons 3| and,are connected with the base angles at points 33.. A spacer bar 34 extends between the upper ends of the corner angle irons 32 and another angle iron 35 connects the rear ends of theangle iron frame members Ill The two'angle irons 3! form rocker supports and serve tojadjustably s pport, the rocker table which has been designateduinits entirety by reference numeral 36. This table consistsofa rectangular frame comprising angle irons 31 to the upper flanges of which a board 38 is secured and this in turn supports a rubber foam cushion 39.

A rocker assembly supports the table 36 and this comprises two rockers 40 that are interconnected by bars 4| (Figures 6 and 8). Mounted for rotation in the upper ends ofthe rockers are rollers 42 that are positioned -in channels 43 which serve as guides. It is now evident that table 36 can move longitudinally with respect to the rockers. For thepurpose of resisting forces tending to separate the table from the rockers, elongated U bars 44 are secured to the board 38 and extend down below the cross bars 4 l. When- .zontal flanges of the rocker supports 3|.

ever any force is exerted tending to raise the table relative to the rockers, the U bars will engage the transverse bars and resist separation. The rocker table can, however, move longitudinally as is clearly evident from Figures 5, '7 and 13.

Secured to each rocker is a bracket comprising two arms 45 that are connected by a shaft 46. Secured to the shaft 46, adjacent the brackets, are twocrank arms 41 and a central crank arm 48. A connecting rod 49 extends from the end of the crank 48 to a bracket 50 secured to the part 38 of the table. Extending downwardly from the cranks 41 are links 5| whose lower ends are provided with rollers 52 that rest on the hori- Flexible straps 53 have one end connected with the rockers at 54, and the other end connected with the links 5|, all as shown in Figure '7. The strap 53 permit the links to move vertically in response to the tilting action of the rockers on the rocker supports. If the front end of the rocker table moves downwardly in response-to forces P, the crank arms 4! and 48 will rotate in a clockwise direction and will move the rocker table longitudinally towards the right, when viewed as in Figures 5, 7 and 13. Springs 55 have one end connected with the shaft 45 and the other with the bracket 50 and are under tension so that when the table rocks in such a direction as to move the end to the left in Figure '7 upwardly, the springs will move the table towards the left with respect to the rockers. The parts are so proportioned that during the rocking of the table, the end adjacent the shoulder support table will move in a vertical line when the table rocks and therefore when a pupil is resting on the tables, there will be no tendency to slide the pupil with respect to the tables because the distance between the tables remains substantially constant during the rocking operation.

It frequently happens that the rocker table is to be held firmly against rocking and for this purpose a latching device is provided. This latching device consists of a short piece of angle iron that has been designated by reference numeral 56 and to one end of which an angle Iii) bracket 51 is, secured as shown in Figures 10 and 12. A block of wood 58 is secured to the vertical flange of the angle iron by means of bolts 59, as shown most clearly in Figure 11. This latching means, of which two are provided, is positioned on the rocker supports in such a way that the flange of the latter projects into the space between the block 58 and the horizontal flange. The bracket 51 extends over the rocker all in 'a manner quite clearly shown in Figure 9. With this latching means in place, the table will be held against any substantial rocking movement.

It is pointed out here that the means illustrated for producing relative movement between the rocker and the rocker table, when the assembly is rocked with respect to the rocker supports, is merely illustrative of means for this purpose. It is evident that the same movement can be accomplished by specifically different means. The object sought is to produce a substantially vertical movement of the end of the rocker table as it is tilted by movement of the rockers on the rocker supports.

From the above description it will be apparent that the stretching table that forms the subject of this invention is so constructed that the elongated frame has one end provided with a stationary shoulder support table and the other with a tiltable or rockable table that can be secured in any desired tilted position, and which, when it is rocked about its support, will be automatically shifted relative to the rockers, so that the end adjacent the shoulder support table will move substantially in a vertical direction, thereby preventing the development of forces tending to slide the pupil on the tables.

Having .described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A stretching device comprising, in combination, an elongated frame, a shoulder support table at one end thereof, tWo spaced parallel rocker support members extending inwardly from the other end, two spaced, parallel rockers resting on the rocker supports, a rocker table resting on the rockers and connected therewith for relative longitudinal movement, and means for moving the rocker table relative to the rockers in the direction of the upwardly moving end whenever the table is tilted.

2. A stretching device comprising, in combination, an elongated frame, a shoulder support table at one end thereof, two spaced parallel rockersupport members extending inwardly from the other end, two spaced, parallel rockers resting on the rocker supports, a rocker table restin on the rockers and connected therewith for relative longitudinal movement, means for moving the rocker table relative to the rockers in the direction of the upwardly moving end, Whenever the table is tilted, and means for interconnecting the rockers and the rocker supports to hold the rocker table in any desired tilted position.

3. A stretchin device comprising, in combination, an elongated frame, a shoulder support table at one end thereof, two spaced parallel rocker support members extending inwardly from the other end, two spaced, parallel rockers resting on the rocker supports, the upper ends of the rockers having rollers pivotally connected therewith, a rocker table having its under surface provided with guide channels operatively related to the rollers, whereby the table may move longitudinally relative to the rockers, means for retaining the table and the rockers in assembled relation, and means for moving the table relative to the rockers in the direction of the upwardly moving end of the table when the latter is tilted.

4. A stretching device comprising, incombination, an elongated frame, a shoulder support table at one end thereof, two spaced parallel rocker support members extending inwardly from the other end, two spaced, parallel rockers resting on the rocker supports, the upper ends of the rockers having rollers pivotally connected therewith, a rocker table having its under surface provided with guide members operatively related to the rollers, whereby the table may move longitudinally relative to the rockers, means for retaining the table and the rockers in assembled relation, means for moving the table relative to the rockers in the direction of the upwardly moving end of the table when the latter is tilted, and means for interlocking the rockers and the rocker supports to hold the table in a predetermined tilted position.

5. A stretching device comprising, in combination, an elongated frame, -a shoulder support table at one end thereof, two spaced parallel rocker support members extending inwardly from the other end, two spaced, parallel rocker resting on the rocker supportsthe upper ends of the rockers having rollers pivotally connected therewith, a rocker table having its under surface provided with guide channels operatively related to the rollers, whereby the table may move longitudinally relative to the rockers, means for retaining the table and the rockers in assembled relation, a hell crank lever pivoted to the rockers for movement about a pivot perpendicular to the planes of the rockers, a, connecting rod having one end connected with the table and the other end with one arm of the bell crank, means comprising a spring for urging the table in one direction relative to th rocker, and means interconnecting the other arm of the bell crank with the rocker supports for effecting a movement of the table relative to therockers in a direction to tension the spring when the table is tilted in one direction.

6. A stretching device comprising, in combination, an elongated frame, a' shoulder support table at one end thereof, two spaced parallel rocker support members extending inwardly from the other end, two spaced, parallel rockers resting on the rocker supports, the upper ends of the rockers having rollers pivotally connected therewith, a. rocker table having its under surface provided with four guide channels operatively relatedto the rollers, whereby the table may move longitudinally relative to the rockers, means for retaining the table and the rockers in assembled relation, a bell crank lever pivoted to the rockers for movement about a. pivot perpendicular to the planes of the rockers, a connecting rod having one end connected with the table and the other end with one arm of the bell crank, means comprising a spring for urging the table in one direction relative to the rocker, means interconnecting the other arm of the bell crank with the rocker supports for effecting a movement of the table relative to the rockers in a direction to tension the spring when the table is tilted in one direction, and means for interlocking the rockers and the rocker supports to hold the rocker table in any desired tilted position.

CLIFFORD MILES MARTIN. 

